Imperial_Household_Council

Imperial Household Council

Imperial Household Council

Government agency

The Imperial Household Council (皇室会議, Kōshitsu Kaigi) is a ten-member body to approve the statutory matters on the Imperial House of Japan. The Council was established in 1947, when the current Imperial Household Law took effect.

This article is about the body of Japan established in 1947. For the administration of the Japanese imperial household, see Imperial Household Agency. For other uses, see Imperial Household Administration.

Functions

The Imperial Household Law provides that the Council shall be summoned by the prime minister to approve of:

  • Marriage of any male member of the Imperial Family (Article X)
  • Forfeiture of the Imperial status of a member of the Imperial Family (Articles XI, XIII and XIV)
  • Changing of the order of succession of an heir who suffers from incurable disease (Article III)
  • Regency (Articles XVI, XVIII and XX)

The Imperial Household Council has been convoked eight times hitherto. At each time, the Council meeting was headed by the Prime Minister and gave a unanimous consent and approval to the agenda.

Forfeiture of the Imperial status

Fifty-one members lost their Imperial status in 1947 with an approval of the Council.

Approval of marriage

The Council has discussed and approved of six marriages since its establishment.

More information Date of approval, Marriage between ...

No princess of the blood needs a marriage approval unless she marries a member of the Imperial House, because she will automatically become a commoner upon marriage and her husband will never be a member of the Imperial House under the rule of patrilineal succession. Seven princesses have married without the Council's approval since it was established.

Imperial abdication

Further information: 2019 Japanese imperial transition

In the summer of 2016, the aged Emperor Akihito indicated his desire to retire, leading to special legislation permitting the first abdication in over two centuries. The council met in December 2017 to formalize how and when the event would take place.

Members of the Imperial Household Council

Article XXVIII of the Imperial Household Law provides that the Imperial Household Council shall consist of:

Article XXX of the Imperial Household Law provides that other ten members shall be appointed as reserve members of the Council:

  • Minister of state - in most cases, chief cabinet secretary
  • Two members of the Imperial Family
  • Two members of the House of Representatives
  • Two members of the House of Councillors
  • An official of the Imperial Household Agency - in most cases, Vice-Grand Steward
  • Two justices of the Supreme Court

Incumbent members of the Council in order of precedence

The reserve members are as follows:

Kōzoku Giin (Imperial Representative)

Kōzoku Giin (皇族議員), literally Imperial Representative, refers to the Imperial Family members elected as members of the Imperial Household Council by mutual election among the adult members of the Imperial Family excluding the emperor. They vote to elect two reserve members from the imperial family in the same way.[1]

More information Term of office starts on, Members ...

Princess Yori ceased to be a reserve member of the Council because she married on 10 October 1952 and thus became a commoner. Princess Takamatsu became a reserve member in replacement for her.

Recent elections

On 3 September 2003, Prince Mikasa was reelected to his fifteenth consecutive term of office since the Council's establishment. Crown Prince Naruhito was voted out. It was for the first time since 1963 that the crown prince was not elected as a member or reserve member of the Council.[2]

On 5 September 2007, Empress Michiko, six princes and nine princesses voted to elect Prince and Princess Hitachi as members of the Council, and Princess Mikasa and Prince Akishino as reserve members. Prince Mikasa was reported to have excused himself for his old age in advance. Crown Prince Naruhito was not elected again while his brother, Prince Akishino was voted in for the first time. The next election was in September 2011.[3]

On 7 September 2011, the regular election was held by the 18 adult members of the imperial family. This time the elections were not held at the Imperial Palace, but in an Agency conference room to reduce energy consumption.[4] Both the members and reserve members were re-elected.[5]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "皇室会議議員及び予備議員互選規則". Archived from the original on 29 April 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  2. [2]
    Mainichi Shimbun Morning Edition, 4 September 2003
  3. [3]
    Mainichi Shimbun Morning Edition, 6 September 2007
  4. [4]
    "Imperial Household Council election". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  5. [5]
    Imperial Diary Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
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